Archive for March, 2008

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16Ye shall know them by their fruits. A lot of Christians or members of the church today are pointing their fingers at others and proclaiming that they are false prophets and wolves in sheep’s clothing, they are getting this phrase from this particular scripture verse, Matthew 7:15, I noticed while looking at the 7th chapter of Matthew some interesting observations. The 7th chapter of Matthew opens with this statement from our Lord not to judge others, so that we ourselves won’t be judged. Now that verse would cause me to wonder if they are calling others wolves, would they not be considered wolves themselves? Myself I would prefer to think that a lot of “wolf callers”, do simply not understand what the will of God actually is. Matthew 7th chapter will help us to understand the will of God because it deals with that subject.1Judge not, that ye be not judged.2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?Verse 16 and 20 states you shall know them by their fruits, another words good fruit and bad fruit, would show if a person was a wolf and false prophet, or a sheep. In verse 21 Jesus starts his explanation of what the will of His and our Father is, notice also in the 24th verse Jesus even goes so far to say “whosever heareth and doeth these sayings of mine is a wise man, who’s house is built upon a rock. That rock of course is our Lord. And Jesus did say whosoever so that you include us today.21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.Verses 21 thru 23, is another favorite scripture of “wolf callers”, but they are calling it wrong, according to Jesus’ doctrine (vs 28), Jesus states in vs 22, that doing wonderful works, casting out devils, and prophesying “in His (Jesus) Name”, is doing the will of the Father (vs 21)!!!! What is prophesying? To foretell future events as John did in the book of Revelation, and also one who speaks under divine inspiration, or as the Holy Spirit gives them a message for others.Why in verse 22 did those that Jesus, say he never knew, say Lord , Lord didn’t we do those things also? It does not mean they actually did do those things, perhaps they thought they were doing the will of God, but actually they were full of iniquity or sin, another words they may have heard the sayings of Jesus, but they did not believe Jesus’ Words enough to live by them. But they merely said, didn’t we do that too, because they observed those that were in the Lord’s presence actually did those things.

Scripture is very clear that Jesus did the will of God, not only did He redeem us from our sins, but he gave us the ability to live lives of victory over the enemy, He healed the sick and cast out demons, Jesus always did the perfect will of our Father in Heaven.

Some in the body of Christ, believe that Jesus quit healing (cessationism), with the last apostle. John Calvin (1509-1564) the most influential of all the reformers, played a big part in that beliefe. I totally disagree with that theology. God has healed me of atleast 2 different illnesses that I recall, one in particular, I actually have the physical proof, which can be viewed below.

Thank God, that many in the body of Christ is comming back to the truth of God’s healing provision, some books concerning healing I would recomend “the healing reawakening, reclaiming our lost inheritance” by Francis MacNutt

a web site to purchase books, or find a church in your area, concerning healing http://www.rhema.org/Main/index.php this is Rev. Ken Hagin jr’s rhema site founded by his father

did our early church fathers believe healing or the “gifts of the Holy Spirit” stopped with the apostles? no they did not, why should we?

Daily some are becoming disciples in the name of Christ…..who are also receiving gifts, each as he is worth. These are illuminated through the name of this Christ. For one receives the Spirit of understanding, another of counsel, another of strength, another of healing. justin martyr (c160, e)1.214

Those who are truly his disciples, receive grace from him,….perform works in his name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and certinally cast out devils. The result is that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the church…still others heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and the sick are made whole. What is more, as I have said, even the dead have been raised up and remained among us for years. What more can I say? it is not possible to name the number of gifts which the church throughout the whole world has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ. irenaeus (c180, e/w) 1.409

this list could go on and on, I personally have laid hands on the sick, in the name of Jesus, and they have recovered, I have received healing myself, only believe, God is able, he loves you.

Some modern day, self proclaimed, heresy hunters proclaim that Rev. E.W. Kenyon and Rev. Kenneth Hagin, considered fathers of the modern day “word of faith” movement brought in the teaching to the church, that Jesus had to die spiritually and went to hell, to remove our sins, and that Rev. E.W.Kenyon, got this teaching from the metaphysical cults, in the book Christianity in crisis, by Hank Hanegraaff, on pp164 quote from Christianity in crisis [of course, Kenneth Hagin taught this doctrine long before price was a force within Christianity, and Hagin followed Kenyon, who in turn got his information from the metaphysical cults! let us pause to get Hagin’s version of the teaching. (He (Jesus) tasted spiritual death for every man. and his
Spirit and inner man went to hell in my place. Can’t you see that? Physical
death wouldn’t remove your sins. He’s talking about tasting spiritual death.)]
end quote from Christianity in crisis.Now in this post I am not going to ask a person to believe or reject this teaching, that is not the point of this post, I believe that if a person believes in their heart that Jesus paid the full price for their sins, and lives as if he believes, and confesses with their mouth, that Jesus is their Lord, they are saved. You will notice that the word heart was in bold letters, I believe that there are a lot of people that have a head or mind knowledge that Jesus paid the full penalty for sins, but they do not really believe it in their heart or spirit, otherwise there would have been a noticeable change in their lifestyles. see Romans 10:9-10, and that does not mean that a born again Christian can not sin, we should certainly avoid sin but if we do sin of course we have 1 John 1:9 and 1 John 2:1.But here I would like to examine if Rev. E.W. Kenyon got this teaching from the metaphysical cults, or was this theology already within the Christian church, well before metaphysical cults came into being. I will show here, this teaching was already in the church theology, and church creed. Most of us probably have quick verse on our computers if you do, don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself, if it is there or not.What did John Calvin born 1509 say concerning Jesus entering hell and suffering spiritual torment there??INSTITUES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, BOOK 2, CHAPTER 16, SECTION 8,HERE WE MUST NOT OMIT THE DESCENDT TO HELL, WHICH IS OF NO LITTLE IMPORTANCE TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF REDEMPTION!!! ……………….THIS MUCH IS UNCONTROVERTED, THAT IT WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL SENTIMENT OF ALL BELIVERS, SINCE THERE IS NONE OF THE CHURCH FATHERS WHO DOES NOT MENTION CHRIST’S DESCENT INTO HELL…….The chief thing to be attended to in the creed is, that it furnishes us with a full and every way complete summary of faith, containing nothing but what has been derived from the infallible word of God. But should any scruple to give it admission into the creed, it will shortly be made plain, that the place which it holds in a summary of our redemption is so important, that the omission of it greatly detracts from the benefit of Christ’s death.

section 10, But apart from the creed, we must seek for a surer exposition of Christ’s descent to hell, and the word of God furnishes us with one not only pious and holy, but replete with excellent consolation. nothing had been done if Christ had only endured corporeal death. In order to interpose between us and God’s anger, and satisfy his righteous judgment…………….not only was the body of Christ given up as the price of redemption, but that there was a greater and more excellent price-that he bore in his soul (spirit) the tortures of condemned and ruined man.

section 11, and certainly no abyss can be imagined more dreadful than to feel that you are abandoned, and forsaken of God, and not heard when you invoke him, just as if he had conspired your destruction. To such a degree was Christ dejected, that in the depth of his agony he was forced to exclaim, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?……………………Thus by engaging with the power of the devil, the fear of death, and the pains of hell, he gained the victory, and achieved a triumph, so that we now fear not in death those things which our Prince has destroyed. Section 13 Next follows the resurrection from the dead, without which all that has hitherto been said would be defective. For seeing that in the cross, death, and burial of Christ, nothing but weakness appears, faith must go beyond all these, in order that it may be provided with full strength. end of my quote from “institutes of the Christian religion”, by John Calvin.

Now in my own examination of book one chapter 16, sections 8-13 of “institutes of the Christian religion” by John Calvin, I find that his theology of this subject matter resembles the “word of faith” theology, on this subject matter, and the word of faith theology on this subject in no way resembles anything from the metaphysical cults.

Let us examine some of Hank Hanegraaff’s other books from the Christian research institute.

“the kingdom of the cults” by Walter Martin, actually Hank Hanegraaf is the general editor, he is also the current president of Christian research institute. To examine metaphysical beliefs we will have to look at chapter 11 “the new age cults”, they are the metaphysical cults. pp336 [quote] the god of the new age movement is not the God of the Bible. Marilyn Ferguson admits that in the emergent spiritual tradition (the new age movement) God is not the personage of our Sunday school mentality New agers usually define God as an impersonal force pervading all creation. [end quote] another words everything is god, you and I are god, as Shirley MacLaine proclaims. sin and satan pp339 [quote] anything is permissible for new agers because sin and evil, are not real. they are only illusions. [end quote]

anyone that is even vaguely familiar with word of faith teachings would clearly see that it is no way close to new age teachings, which according to the book (the kingdom of the cults)came into existence around 1875 pp336, which was long after John Calvin the church reformer of the 1500’s.

If a person wanted to examinine where E.W. Kenyon got some of his theology concerning healing, etc. I would recommend the book “E.W.Kenyon the true story” by Joe McIntyre, available at Rev. E.W.Kenyon’s books etc.

I do not believe in cessationism, which John Calvin brought into the church that doctrine, to see healing in the church history I would recommend the book “the healing reawakening, reclaiming our lost inheritance” by Francis MacNutt, which is another subject, looking at the writings of early church fathers they are filled with the truth on healing and miracles, after the apostles, I have first hand knowledge God has healed me. But back to Christian research institute, and Hank Hanegraaff, searching there web site and the www, I have been unable to find their “statement of faith” and beliefs, why would the so called “police” of Christianity not disclose fully what their faith or belief is???? I can only try to determine for myself their beliefs, by their criticism and condemnation and damnation of others. I believe they are Baptists or Methodist perhaps and cessationlist, I would hope the self proclaimed Christian police department, would clearly spell out what it is they believe. So perhaps the body of Christ could determine if we have any common ground for any unity and Love.